The old adage tells us that knowledge is power – and that is certainly true in the world of B2B marketing.

In an industry that changes frequently, the ability to stay up to date with the latest insights can be the difference between success and wasted budget. So, where do you start? What is the best way to stay ahead of the curve? Well, few channels will provide in-depth learnings and guidance at the frequency achieved by blogs. Subscribing to around 5 blog feeds means you’re likely to be reading the latest industry news and findings multiple times each week.

We are really pleased to announce that Really B2B is now part of Centaur Media PLC, joining other leading brands including Econsultancy, Marketing Week, The Lawyer, Celebrity Intelligence and Oystercatchers.Read More

As marketers, we are all aware that companies which use blogs get 67% more leads than those that do not[i] - that’s a given. But, when it comes to ideal lengths of posts, there seems to be a huge lack of consensus. Some people say that 2,000+ words generates the best results, whereas others suggest less than 500 is the target. So what’s the answer? Well, we’re not so bold as to suggest we have the answer. However, we are able to offer some advice and guidance on choosing the length that suits you.

In the animal kingdom, camouflage is used for two purposes. The first of these is for safety as it enables animals to hide from predators. The second however is used by predators themselves. They use camouflage as a way to hide their approach from their prey when advancing on their next meal. From owls and spiders, to leopards and snakes, predators’ camouflage has evolved to a superior level and enabled their species to survive.

Yesterday saw thousands of enthusiastic B2B marketers descend on London’s Business Design Centre for the B2B Marketing Ignite event. A combination of conference, networking opportunity, and awards ceremony, this occasion attracted the industry’s best and brightest stars for a day-long agenda filled with insights and information. With input from experts across a variety of disciplines, the information and advice was flying thick and fast. And of course, we sent a selection of our marketing directors and managers along to ensure we stay ahead of the curve.

To put this statistic into perspective, the average attention span of a goldfish is 9 seconds. Yes, that’s right… humans now have a shorter attention span than goldfish! And this information is a generalised number, as when it comes to viewing webpages and content, the time is no doubt a lot less than 8.25 seconds. So, what does this mean for B2B marketing content? Well, the landscape is changing and a paradigm shift is taking place. Are you ready?

Email marketing, how we love it. Even to this day, the grandfather of online marketing is still performing and proving to be a highly valuable weapon in the B2B marketer’s arsenal. But, have we stopped giving this channel the due care and attention it deserves? Perhaps so.

For those organisations out there that have yet to review and amend their procedures in line with the GDPR, now is definitely the time. With the law coming into force in May 2018 (yes, this time next year), failure to comply could result in fines of up to €20 million. And just to clarify, the fact Brexit is going ahead will make no difference to the implementation of this law, so that’s not a ‘get out of jail card’ either. So, what should you be doing now to ensure you are best placed for the arrival of the GDPR next year? Well…

As a generation who were born or brought up during the age of internet technology, digital natives are able to adapt and respond to the latest digital trends with seemingly little trouble. What about the rest of us though? What about those of us who go to great lengths to understand and implement the latest tech, only to find that 3 more tools have arrived in the marketplace during that time? As people who seem to be endlessly chasing a ‘comfort zone’ of the latest technology knowledge, these digitally displaced marketers could really do with a break.

Believe it or not, 91% of B2B buyers are influenced by word-of-mouth referrals when making their buying decision[i]. This means that even with their great power and authority, there are few things which these decision-makers rely on more than input from their colleagues. So, what does this mean for you? Well, ultimately it means - overlook these influencers at your peril.

‘Martech’ is a term that’s been around for a while, but what seems to have slipped quietly under the radar is the fact that the number of actual marketing technologies is growing at an exponential rate. This means that there’s twice as many software options and programs as there were last year, and there will be twice as many by this time next year. Now, on an individual basis, each of these solutions will no doubt have their benefits. But, to a marketing director who is tasked with overseeing data, targets, and the results of the marketing department, this tech explosion can create a dizzying environment – not to mention a big headache.

Before we dive into this topic and its potential uses within the B2B marketing space, lets first be clear on the definitions. Augmented reality is the ability to superimpose digital objects and imagery into the real world using a camera (smartphone or tablet) as the conduit. Virtual reality on the other hand, is the creation of an entirely digital world which people can access via immersive technology such as headsets. All make sense? These are technologies which you’ve no doubt seen previously in different forms and variations. But, as the technology develops and becomes more mainstream, these digital realities are starting to make waves in the world of marketing.